After taking time off work, booking your flights and arranging for your neighbour to feed the cat, the last thing you need is for your trip to be cancelled because of a lack of people on your tour. Our guaranteed departures give you the peace of mind to book the tour that suits you.

A guaranteed departure means that the tour will definitely operate on the day it is scheduled and will not be cancelled for lack of participation. All guaranteed departures will run except in the event of a natural disaster or other similarly disruptive event that is beyond our control.

MEETING POINT / TRANSFERS

Day 1: Meeting at the arrival lobby of Ulan Bator Airport at 10:30 (please book a flight arriving before 10:05am).
If you are already in Ulan Bator, the meeting point is in the lobby of the hotel at 14:00.
Day 13: Transfer to Ulan Bator airport on time for flights departing after 07:10am.

Groups of 1, 2 or 3 riders: + 250 € / pers.
Applies to the 3 first riders booked. When the 4th rider is booked the supplement is refunded for all riders.

SINGLE ROOM

+ 120 € / pers. (2 nights in Ulan Bator only).
This single room supplement applies if you want a single room in Ulan Bator.
No single supplement is due if
you are OK to share your room with another person (same gender) even if we do not find another person willing to share.

INCLUDED

Tour and visits as described, horseback rides as described, full board from dinner of day 1 to breakfast of day 13 except 1 dinner, English speaking translator, Russian 4x4 with driver, nomadic equestrian guide, financial guarantee of your deposits.

Tour itinerary

However, you can enjoy the great outdoors as much as sleeping in a cozy bed, so Mongolia Travel & Tours decided to offer this "comfort" horseback tour with 100% accommodation in yurts!

This magnificent 13-day horse ride will allow you to enjoy the best of Mongolia in the best conditions with accommodation in yurts with traditional beds and showers every evening (except at the nomadic family's yurt).

Day 1 - Saturday: Ulan Bator

Welcome to Mongolia!

Your English speaking translator is waiting for you at Ulan Bator airport at 10:30 (arrival of Turkish Airlines flight).

Day 2: Ulan Bator - Khogno Khan Park (Bayan Gobi)

Breakfast and transfer to Hogno Han Park (5 hours drive - strongly depending on the condition of the roads).

Lunch on the way.

In the afternoon, short first horse ride in the Bayan Gobi, the "rich desert". We ride to the small Ovgon Khiid Monastery, set in a dramatic scenery.

Bayan Gobi region is the only opportunity to ride horses in typical Gobi desert landscape in Mongolia, as there are no horses further south in the Gobi Desert.

This evening, we spend our first night in a touristic yurt camp, the local typical accommodation we will use for all the nights during this tour.

Dinner and night at the yurt camp (up to 5 riders per yurt - showers in a separate building).

Day 3: Khogno Khan (Bayan Gobi) - Full day on horseback

After breakfast, departure for a spectacular day on horseback.

We will ride through Bayan Gobi semi-desert steppes, in a dramatic scenery between Elsentasarhaï high dunes, black cliffs and a river bringing a touch of greenery.

Picnic lunch brought by our vehicules, nothing to carry on the horses, so we can enjoy many canters!

In the afternoon, we keep on riding in these amazing landscapes. The contrast between the desert dunes and the marshland that borders them is spectacular! We pass suddenly from the desert to the Garden of Eden. Nomads often gather their herds in this vast wet plains, a wonderful vision...

We arrive on horseback at the yurt camp, located in a semi-desert environment.

Dinner and night at the yurt camp (2 to 4 riders per yurt, with single beds, showers in a separate building).

Day 4: Khogno Khan - Orkhon Valley

After breakfast, we drive through the Orkhon Valley to meet the nomads who will guide us during this ride and who breed the horses we will ride (4-5 hours drive - strongly depending on the condition of the roads and tracks).

Late lunch, and it is time to choose our horse for the first ride in the Valley.

This short ride will be the opportunity to get acquainted to our horse. As we come back at the nomadic family yurts in the evening, it will be possible to try another horse if necessary.

Day 5: Horse riding tour in the Orkhon Valley (upstream)

We ride in the upstream part of the Valley where the landscape becomes wilder and wilder.

This volcanic region has black ancient lava flows which contrast with the white running water of the Orkhon River.

Picnic lunch brought by our vehicules.

On horseback, we reach the forest with the impressive Naiman Nuur mountains in front of us.

Dinner and night at a very remote yurt camp in the forest (2 to 4 riders per yurt, with single beds, showers in a separate building).

Day 6: Horse riding tour in the Orkhon Valley (Orkhon Falls)

After breakfast, we still ride in the upstream part of the Valley, returning towards the Orkhon Falls through another way.

Picnic lunch brought by our vehicules.

We arrive in the afternoon at our yurt camp, not far from the famous Orkhon Falls where we go on horseback.

Dinner and night at the yurt camp (2 to 4 riders per yurt, with single beds, showers in a separate building).

Day 7: Horse riding tour in the Orkhon Valley (Uurt)

Another beautiful day on horseback as we will ride to one of the most famous sites of the Orkhon Valley: Uurt Canyon.

Picnic lunch brought by our vehicules.

We are now in the downstream section of the Valley, the landscapes are more open, towered by two mountain ranges, and we meet lots of nomadic families with their herds, who take advantage of the rich grass of the valley.

The arrival at the yurt camp (gercamp) is a nice surprise as it is located in a superb site, bordering the canyon of the Orkhon River. We will spend 2 nights in this beautiful gercamp.

Dinner and night at the yurt camp (2 to 4 riders per yurt, with single beds, showers in a separate building).

Day 8: Horse riding tour in the Orkhon Valley (Around Uurt)

Today we ride in the surrounding mountains, to get a higher view on the Orkhon Valley.

We return to the same gercamp in the evening.

Dinner and night at the yurt camp (2 to 4 riders per yurt, with single beds).

Day 9: Horse riding tour in the Orkhon Valley (Khujirt)

Khujirt is famous for its water, which is bottled and sent all over Mongolia.

The view is spectacular on the river which is now mich wider and lazy among wavy grassy hills.

That's the Mongolia of your dreams ...

Picnic lunch.

We arrive in the afternoon at a unique environment friendly yurt camp. The view from the camp on the huge valley is incredible.

This camp is "eco-friendly", there is no "real" showers, but wet warm towels are brought to your yurt twice a day: quite surprising but efficient! You can also enjoy a very funny "yurt coiffeur" if you need your hair to be washed.

Dinner and night at the yurt camp (2 to 3 riders per yurt, with single beds).

Day 10: Horse riding tour in the Orkhon Valley (Karakorum)

Today is our last day on horseback in the Orkhon Valley.

In the last miles before Karakorum - the former capital of Mongolian Empire - the Valley is narrower, offering wonderful views from the mountain slopes on the Orkhon river.

This part of the Orkhon Valley is one of the nicest, as the river is very calm, the water reflecting the sky as a mirror. The dark blue water contrasts with the lush green of the grass, and the white yurts around. Many herds roam in the steppe around, and you will take many pictures of the typical Mongolia today.

It is time to say good bye to our horses and to our wonderful nomadic friends.

Dinner and night at the yurt camp (2 to 4 riders per yurt, with single beds, showers in a separate building).

No dinner included, to let you choose among the varied dining opportunities offered by Ulan Bator.

Night at Nine Hotel or similar (3*).

Day 13 - Ulan Bator

Breakfast and transfer to airport on time for flights departing after 07:10am.

Practical Information

MEETING POINT / TRANSFERS

Day 1: Meeting at the arrival lobby of Ulan Bator Airport at 10:30 (please book a flight arriving before 10:05am).
If you are already in Ulan Bator, the meeting point is in the lobby of the hotel at 14:00.
Day 13: Transfer to Ulan Bator airport on time for flights departing after 07:10am.

Language: English speaking translator.

Group size: 2-10 persons.

Accommodation

This is a "comfort" tour: no nights in tents, you will enjoy the most comfortable accommodation available in Mongolia.

Tour Reviews

Your travel expert - Claire

"An exclusive horse riding tour with the comfort of nights in yurts - which are also part of the experience ..."

"I do not think that anything will ever come close the experience of Mongolia.

The organisation, the itinerary, the people, the place, it was breath taking from start to finish.

Our Guide Khandaa, was the most amazingly warm and welcoming person, she really took us under her wing and showed us exactly what Mongolia is. She was organised and kept a close eye on all of us, she had fun with us, took time to translate for us with the horsemen, which just added such a dimension to the trip. It meant we could sit in the evening as one group and have a laugh over the days riding and talk about tomorrow. She is an amazing person and as tour guide I can only say that she brought so much to our trip I cannot recommend her enough.

Our Driver whom we called Chiggis Khan (original I know but he looked really like him) took his role at keeping us safe very seriously and he became a great friend with the group as the weeks passed. He told us of traditional Mongolian competitions, of how they train the horses & he even attempted to show us how to do Archery!!! His smiling face waiting on us for lunch or in the evening when we would return, and always an easy joke with us. He provided memories we will never forget.

The horsemen in both the Gobi & the Orkhan Valley were so special. They took the time to get to know each of us and our ability and they took such excellent care of us throughout the day and the interactions over dinner in the evening were always hilarious as we tried our best speak Mongolian and they English. We were so grateful to these men's families that they let us borrow them for days." - Aoife D. (Aug. 2018)

"A trip made of encounters, sharing, fun and scenery. Never far from horses and always in the middle of nature ... Thirteen unforgettable days. A lot of encounters and a basket full of sparkling moments as keepsakes.
I booked this trip with Mongolia Travel & Tours alone, and it has been the opportunity to meet other adventurers.
This agency is a story of sharing and passions ... Thanks to Sabine (for her love of life and sharing) and Yeruult for his hospitality and patience. Thank you to Boogi (my guide) and Dembee (the breeder of some of our horses), without whom this trip would not have been as brilliant. I wish all those who will have the chance to go to Mongolia to cross paths with people as caring and vibrant as I myself met !! "- Laetitia (August 2013)

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IMPORTANT - Flights in Mongolia

Be aware that very few airlines go to Mongolia, flights are therefore quickly fully booked, especially between June and September. Book at least 6 months in advance to have the best air fares.
If your luggage has been delayed, the airlines do NOT deliver it in Mongolia, they keep it available in Ulan Bator.
If your tour has already started, and you are already in the Orkhon Valley for example, it can be very expensive to deliver it.
We can do it for you at extra cost:
- 50 € for a delivery inside Ulan Bator
- 100 € for a delivery in Hustai
- 200 € for a delivery in Khogno Khan
- 300 € for a delivery in Karakorum, the Orkhon Valley
or Arkhangai
- 400 € for a delivery at Lake Khövsgöl or in the Gobi Desert
This cost includes the driver & the vehicle for 1 or 2 days depending on the distance + fuel for the vehicule for the round trip + meals and accommodation for the driver if the roundtrip is more than 1 day.
If your flight is late, the same rates apply if you need a private transfer.